Understanding dementia

You may have had problems remembering things that have happened recently, or have found yourself getting confused in familiar places. You may be worried these are signs of dementia, though being forgetful doesn't necessarily mean you have dementia. 

What are the symptoms of dementia?

Memory loss 

• struggling with the date and day of the week
• forgetting names of people or things
• having difficulty with your short-term memory, even though you remember things from longer ago
• forgetting where you put something or where things are kept

'Fuzzy' thoughts 

• feeling your thoughts or memories are clouded
• finding it takes you longer to process information 
• getting yourself in a muddle and being unable to arrange things in the right order
• finding your decision making is affected, for example cooking too much or too little food 

Disorientation

• feeling confused or even lost in a familiar place
• being out and forget where you were going or how to get there
• getting confused between night and day 

Struggling to follow things 

• finding it difficult to follow conversations, particularly in groups
• struggling to follow the television, or losing track of a book or newspaper article
• repeating things or forgetting what you were saying mid-sentence

Mood and personality changes 

• experiencing mood swings 
• becoming irritable or short-tempered
• losing interest in hobbies and socialising 

If problems like these start to affect your daily life, it's worth making an appointment to discuss them with your GP. 

If you're worried about someone else, try to encourage them to see their GP. You could offer to go with them for support if they seem a bit reluctant. 

What are the main types of dementia?

Dementia isn't a disease in itself, it's a term used to describe symptoms caused by other diseases that affect the brain. Knowing the type of dementia means treatment can be more specific to an individual's needs. 

The most common types of dementia are:

Alzheimer's disease

Alzheimer's disease is a form of dementia that targets the part of the brain that controls memory, language and thought. Alzheimer's and dementia often get confused with one another, which can cause upset and confusion. 

Vascular dementia

Vascular dementia is the second most common type of dementia, after Alzheimer's disease. This type of dementia is caused when the brain becomes damaged due to lack of blood supply, for instance following a stroke. 

Other types of dementia

There are many other, rarer, types of dementia such as dementia with Lewy bodies or frontotemporal dementia. Conditions such as multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's disease and Huntington's disease may lead to someone developing dementia. 

Who is at risk of dementia?

There doesn't seem to be a single cause of dementia. But current research suggests a combination of factors affect your overall risk of developing dementia.

• Age is the most significant factor. The risk of developing dementia increases with age.
• Genetics don't seem to play a significant part in your risk of developing dementia, even if your parent or relative has it. It's only in some cases of early-onset dementia where there appears to be a stronger genetic link, but this is very rare.
• Unhealthy lifestyles have also been shown to increase your risk of dementia. 

What can I do to reduce my risk of dementia?

Those that follow a healthier lifestyle have been shown to have a lower risk of dementia. Doing what you can to protect your heart, as well as staying active, can be beneficial. Therefore, it's best to aim to:

• eat a varied diet containing lots of fruit and vegetables
• eat less salty and fatty foods, especially those high in saturated fat
• drink alcohol in moderation
• stop smoking
• take regular exercise
• enjoy an active life with plenty of outside interests
• ask your GP to check your blood pressure and cholesterol 
• keep your blood glucose well controlled if you have diabetes

See our pages on healthy eating and keeping fit for more information.

What should I do if I think I have dementia?

If you're worried you may have dementia or feel it may be affecting someone you know, it's important you go to your GP.

Your GP may carry out some tests to check your thinking and memory and decide what is causing your symptoms. They may make a decision based on this, but they may have to refer you for a fuller assessment to a memory clinic or consultant with specialist knowledge. 

Visit our Diagnosis and treatment page for more information about your next steps.